Rowan's POVWith one last glance at Ember's unconscious body on my bed, I could feel my heart tighten.She looked so fragile, so lifeless. I didnโt know if she would make it, but I wasnโt going to let anyone else see that weakness in me.My jaw clenched as I stood up, my fists tightening. I would make the one responsible pay. No one dared harm Ember and got away with it."Take me to her now!" My voice was sharp, cutting through the silence of the room. Beta Nathan, standing at the door, nodded quickly and led the way.My footsteps were heavy, filled with rage as I followed him out, the fury inside me building like a storm ready to break.We headed down the long corridor, past the windows that showed the dimming evening sky. I didnโt care about the fading daylight; all I could think about was that woman.The cook. The one who had prepared peaches for an Alpha. As a cook in the pack house, she was expected to know what the Alpha took and what he didn't. There was no excuse for preparing
Emberโs POVI slowly opened my eyes, my eyelids heavy as if they were weighed down by stones. My head felt cloudy, and everything around me seemed hazy, but one thing stood out clearly โ the smell of fresh cinnamon.It was strange and comforting, yet confusing. I knew right away that this wasnโt my room. My room smelled of lavender and the crisp scent of the forest. But here, cinnamon filled the air. Where was I?Just then, the last memory I had came rushing back โ the pack meeting in the throne chamber.I had barely walked in, sick, when I felt dizzy, my vision blurring, and then... I collapsed. I could faintly remember Alpha Rowan shouting my name just before everything went dark.His voice was strong, filled with authority, but there had been a trace of something else. Worry?I blinked a few more times, trying to focus. As my eyes adjusted, I saw a ceiling above me, different from my own. It was, in some way, familiar but not mine.It had wooden beams crossing it, with soft sunligh
Thane's POVI stood in my room, tightening the belt of my robe, the dark fabric heavy with the weight of my role.As Alpha of the Claw Bane pack, I had responsibilities that went beyond my personal feelings, beyond my wants and needs. Today was no different.I had to prepare for the council meeting with the elders. The gathering with the Alphas of the East was approaching, and I was to represent our region.It wasnโt just about me; it was about making our pack proud, showing them that we were strong, capable, and ready to stand tall.I reached for the ceremonial bracelet, a piece made of silver and black leather, marking me as the Alpha.But as my fingers brushed against the cold metal, my eyes shifted, catching sight of something else on the dresserโa simple thread bracelet, frayed at the edges. I froze.Ember.She had made that for me years ago, back when things wereโฆ different. Before everything had gone wrong.Before the distance between us grew so wide it felt like we were strang
Thane's POVPresent in the hall with Beta Ivar, I could feel a strange sense of tension rising in the air. Ivarโs expression was serious, his brow furrowed as he fixed his gaze on me. His voice broke the silence, and with it came news I wasn't expecting."Your grandfather is back, and he wants to see you, Alpha Thane," Ivar declared abruptly, leaving no room for doubts, although I still couldn't believe itโnot yet.My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his statement about my grandfather returning to the Claw Bane pack.I shot to my feet instantly, my eyes widening with disbelief. โWhat?โ I stammered, trying to make sense of the words.Grandfather was back? It still didnโt feel real because he had told me clearly before he left that he wouldnโt be returning anytime soon.His trip was supposed to be long, and I wasnโt expecting to see him until winterโmonths from now or even a year later.โI thoughtโhe saidโhe wouldnโt be back yetโฆโ I muttered, but my words were mostly to myself.I wa
Thane's POV.I stood frozen as Zara began to speak. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke me.โGrandpa, Ember isโฆโ she started, and my heart sank. She was going to tell him everythingโevery single thing Iโd been desperately trying to hide.Without even thinking, I cut her off, my voice coming out strained but steady enough to pass. โEmber went on a getaway trip to recover, Grandpaโฆ sheโs pregnant,โ I lied smoothly, feeling the words burn in my throat.Pregnant. Ember was pregnant? No, she wasnโt. Iโd rejected her that night after Iโd made her lose her baby. Sheโd left the pack, vanished into thin air, and I hadnโt seen her since.But I couldnโt tell Grandpa that. How could I possibly explain that Ember had walked away because of how she felt Iโd treated her? Because of me? The truth would crush him, and I couldnโt bear it.Grandpa paused for a second, his eyes studying me carefully. I could feel the weight of his gaze, and it felt like it might crush me.Then, to my shock,
Thane's POVAs I stood in my room, staring out the window, I couldnโt shake the uneasy feeling twisting inside me.Zara paced around behind me, her anger evident in every move she made. She didnโt need to say anything for me to know she was furious.I clenched my fists, my mind racing with thoughts of what Grandpa might do if he found out the truth.โThane, we have to tell himโฆ you can't pull off what you just said,โ Zara snapped, finally breaking the silence with her insistence. Her voice was low but sharp, filled with frustration.โNo,โ I said quickly, turning around to face her. โZara, we canโt. Not yet.โโNot yet?โ she hissed, her eyes narrowing. โYou rejected Ember, Alpha Thane. You let her walk away because she is a cunning woman. And you want to keep that from Grandpa?โIn some ways, Zara was right. Ember had had a secret affair. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of her words. She was right. Ember was gone; I needed to clear things up.I had rejected her when she
Thane's POVI could feel the weight of my words before I even spoke them. The air was tense. I stood in front of Grandpa, ready to explain what happened with Ember, but the words sat heavy in my chest. I didnโt want to lie anymore, but the truth would destroy him.Before I could speak, Zara cut in, her voice sharp and quick. "Ember is gone, Grandpa. She left after Alpha Thane rejected her." Her words sliced through the air before I could stop her.Grandpaโs eyes widened, his face twisting with anger and disbelief. He turned to me, his voice shaking with shock. โWhat?โ he almost choked on the word. โTell me it isnโt trueโฆ tell me, Thane!โI clenched my fists, my knuckles white from the pressure. I wanted to say somethingโanythingโto keep the truth from tearing him apart.I had already tried lying to him before, saying Ember was just on a trip, claiming she was pregnant to ease his worry.But now, I couldnโt lie anymore. I couldnโt keep pretending everything was fine when it clearly was
Thane's POV.I rushed through the crowd, my heart pounding in my chest as my eyes locked onto my grandpa lying on the ground. He wasnโt moving.His eyes were shut so tight, his face pale and still. My world stopped for a moment, and my breath hitched. I couldnโt lose himโnot now, not like this.โGrandpa!โ I screamed, my voice breaking with fear. Dropping to my knees, I scooped him up in my arms, shaking him lightly, desperate for him to open his eyes. โWake up! Please, Grandpa, wake up!โBut he didnโt move. Not even a twitch.Terror surged through me, icy and sharp. I felt helpless, watching him like this. How could this have happened? I shook him again, harder this time, but his body remained limp in my arms.My mind was spinning. I needed to do somethingโanythingโto save him. Without wasting another second, I lifted him, his weight heavy in my arms, and rushed toward the car.The crowd parted as I pushed through, shouting, โMove! Get out of the way!โZara sat in the front passenger
Rowan's POV. I burst into the room, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. The scent of blood and sweat filled the air, but it was her scentโsoft and familiarโthat made my wolf, Crawls, roar in my mind. There she was, Ember, lying on the cold floor like a broken doll. Her fiery red hair was tangled, her face pale, and her body still. For a moment, I froze.โEmber,โ I whispered, my voice trembling. My knees hit the floor beside her, and I gently scooped her up into my arms. She was far too light, her frame frail, and the warmth I always associated with her was gone. Crawls howled again, desperate and full of rage, but I forced him back. Now wasnโt the time to lose control.โIโve got you,โ I murmured, pressing her close to my chest. โIโll keep you safe now. I swear it.โWithout wasting another second, I rushed out of the room, my boots echoing against the hardwood floors. The house was eerily quiet, the signs of battle evident in the shattered windows and overturned furniture.
Rowan's POVStaring at Loak, who stood before me, my hands holding his shoulders, I tried to piece it all together. His uncanny resemblance to me, his ability to calm me down even after raging.His scent. He was definitely of Alpha blood. Could he be my son? I pondered deeply, but just as I was still trying to understand it all, the door to the room pushed open, and Beta Nathan stormed in.It seemed more like they hadnโt left the pack yet.โAlpha Rowan, weโve got news,โ he declared the second he walked in, making me stand to my feet and turn to him.There was no doubt that I would solve the situation between Loak and me later. Right now, Ember mattered the most.โSpeak up!โ I commanded with a deep, grumpy voice, and immediately, he began to speak.โOur spies in the Claw Bane pack just sent a message to us that Luna Ember is in the Claw Bane pack. Alpha Thane took her that night!โThe second Beta Nathan let out those words, I felt an intense sense of rage and fury course through my vei
Rowan's POVโWhat do you mean you can't find her? Is she some ghost now who can just disappear without a trace?โ I shouted as I struck my tightened fist on the table before me.After the misunderstanding between Ember, my Luna, and me, she left the pack house. I was going to chase after her, but Beta Nathan asked me to stay back. He pleaded with me to stay back. Now, I don't know where she is.I have no idea where she ran off to. It's been close to three days, and my mate hasn't returned to the pack house. So where the fuck is she?โIโm so sorry, Alpha Rowan, but we've searched the entire Scar Moon pack for her and are unable to find her. I donโt know, but maybe she left just like seven years ago.โThe second he let such bitter words leave his lips, I stormed to my feet in anger. โEnough, Beta Nathan!โ I could see him take a step backward, recoiling away from me.โShe loves me! Only me! She wouldn't dare leave the pack like before. Donโt say what you arenโt sure of!โ I warned him ster
Ember's POVA throbbing ache in my head welcomed me back to reality. The stinging light pierced into the dark room through the cracks on the wall. Donโt get me started on the cold that engulfed me instantly.โWhere am I?โ I struggled to speak, my eyes squinting as I held my head, trying to stop the pain that coursed through my veins.I wasnโt expecting my morning to be this wayโfinding myself on the ground and looking all pale. Just as I was trying to understand what was happening, I recalled it. I recalled last night.I had seen Alpha Rowan with a ladyโa half-naked lady at that. He was on her. The Rowan I knew wouldnโt dare to cheat on me, but because of my assumptions, I believed it and fled from the pack house without realizing it was a plot to get me where they wanted me.Uncle Baron had taken me in and drugged me. And the last voice I heard was that of Thane. Does it mean Alpha Thane was part of this plot? He carried me last night, which meant just one thingโฆ โI am in the Claw Ba
Zara's POVI kept hearing weird soundsโdisturbing ones at thatโas I lay in my room. I had been unable to rest all day, and just as I was about to do so, this happened.With a frustrated groan leaving my lips, I sat up on the bed, rubbing my eyes gently to check what time it was. It was clearly midnight, so why was I still hearing whispers from outside my room?It seemed like something fishy was going on, and whoever was responsible didnโt want anyone to know about it.โWho could that be?โ I pondered briefly before I stood up from my bed and walked out of the room.My eyes scanned the area, as vigilant as always. In case the pack house was being robbed, I definitely shouldnโt let myself fall into danger immediately.Just as I was trying to understand what was going on, I couldnโt help but halt abruptly in my tracks at the sudden sight of a door partly creaked open by my right side.With my brows furrowing, I turned on my heels and headed closer to the door. Peeking through the tiny ope
Ember's POVI wasn't sure what Beta Nathan was trying to do, but one thing I knew was that I didnโt, and couldnโt, fall for it.I ignored him and headed straight toward the room. I was tired of standing out in the cold. I needed to rest. I had been through so much already, and I was certain that standing there and listening to him speak for another second could make me collapse.He tried to call out and stop me, but I didnโtโI couldnโt stop. After what felt like an eternity, I finally arrived at the door to the room.For some reason, I kept hearing voices inside the room. It couldnโt be Beta Nathan because I had just been with him, and from the tone of the voice, it sounded more like a female voice, which made my brows furrow immediately.โWhatโs happening? Why is there a female in the Alpha's room?โ I questioned, my curiosity piqued as I reached for the door handle.I knew that Rowan rarely let the maids come into his room after I began staying with him. Without another thought, I pu
Rowan's POVOne week later*It's been a week, a wonderful week since Ember healed up from being poisoned by wolfsbane. She was poisoned by that demon called Zara, who pretends to be a cool and kind lady in front of Thane. She's just using him.Well, that's not the point. The point is that the second Ember walks through those doors, I won't hesitate to embrace her, kiss her, and tell her how much I have always loved her, despite being rude and harsh to her.That was never my intention. I just wanted her to see how much leaving me hurtโleaving me all alone after taking some money from my uncle. But right now, I don't care about any of that, as it might all just be lies.As I stared at myself in the mirror, a bright smile curling across my lips, I couldn't help but think about what she'd say when she walks in.I was preparing for her alone. I wanted her to see me as a good Alpha she could trust, someone she could open up to, and not as a monster. I didn't want to be a monster anymore.Tu
Uncle Baron's POV.โHigh Lord Baron, are you certain that Scott's plans will work?โ Ricky asked as he drove the car.We were heading back to the pack house so I could rest and also act like nothing happenedโlike we hadn't left the pack house.I turned my gaze to look outside the car. I knew Scott was still young, but that didn't mean he wasn't thinking or that he was useless.โWhat will be will be, Ricky. So long as you want it, it'll happen. I don't care about the plans Scott has. I care about the outcome, and we have to make it happen,โ I said in a low grunt, my eyes not turning back to look at him.I was sure he had kept staring at me through the rearview mirror, but I still didn't give him a glance from where I sat.Just as we were still heading back to the pack house, the sudden ringing of his phone echoed inside the car, pulling his attention to it.I didn't care. I didn't want to, but the minute he mentioned Alpha Thane, I felt my hairs stand. There was no doubt that the plans
Uncle Baron's POVJust as I stood by the window, my grip around the glass cup I held in my hand tightened, a deep frown etched across my face as I looked outside.Rowan dared to confront me because of that bitch. That omega, whom I had warned to stay away from the Scar Moon pack. We had an agreementโshe was expected never to show up, but she did, and right now, she was ruining my plans for me. My plans to take over the Scar Moon pack.And whoever threatens to destroy what I have tried to build for so longโI'm sorry, but I can't let them live.โShe has to go.โ My grip tightened even more until I crushed the glass cup, letting the pieces pierce through my skin, just to show how furious I was.I wasn't expecting to see her in the Scar Moon pack.Just as I was still reeling in anger and rage, a sudden knock came at my door, bringing me back to reality for a split second.โWho?โ My deep voice echoed in the room as I asked.โIt's Gamma Ricky, Sir,โ the voice came in, sharp and abrupt.โCome